Build roofing skills through apprenticeship

By The Coffee Shops®.  

Certificate program combines classroom instruction with the practical, on-the-job training required to develop roofing trade skills. 

While certification and traditional education remain a fundamental part of roofing, young tradespeople can get a leg up with hands-on experience. An apprenticeship provides practical education in a learning environment while also offering the benefit of long-term relationships with teachers and mentors. Young roofers need experience with a wide range of systems, materials and jobsite practices. The Ontario Industrial Roofing Contractors Association (OIRCA) Roofer Apprenticeship program provides the theoretical knowledge and practical training designed to complement the skills apprentices develop while working in the field.  

Roofers install, repair and replace conventional, inverted built-up, single-ply and two-ply modified roofing systems. Their work can also include damp-proofing, waterproofing and weatherproofing as well as installing and repairing slate, tile and shingles. The trade also involves resurfacing roofs and learning to use equipment, materials and processes safely and efficiently while meeting required standards and specifications. 

The certificate program consists of 480 hours delivered in two components. Level One introduces roof maintenance, roof systems and applications, sloped roofing, tools and materials, trade documentation and workplace safety. Level Two continues each of these subjects, giving apprentices an opportunity to build on their foundational knowledge. 

Apprenticeship combines in-school training with supervised, on-the-job experience. Approximately 90% of an apprentice’s time is spent developing practical skills under the supervision of a qualified journeyperson. The remaining time focuses on the theoretical and technical aspects of the trade. 

Prospective students must be registered apprentices under the Trades Qualification and Apprenticeship Act with the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities in the Roofer trade, code 449A. Applicants are registered on a first-come, first-served basis. Books and parking fees are additional, while Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program participants are not required to pay classroom fees. 

Learn more about the Roofer Apprenticeship program through the Ontario Industrial Roofing Contractors Association.